New York, September 22, 2026: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday again credited himself with helping end the military escalation between Pakistan and India in May 2025, while praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as a “terrific man” during his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Speaking before world leaders in New York, Trump said it had been an honour to help settle eight conflicts since he took office, attributing his efforts to what he described as strong relations with leaders and the use of tariffs.
Listing conflicts he said he had helped settle, Trump mentioned Pakistan and India alongside Thailand and Cambodia, Armenia and Azerbaijan and the Gaza conflict.
“The prime minister of Pakistan — terrific man — said that Donald Trump was responsible for saving 30 million lives and probably many more than that,” Trump said.
Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated in April 2025 following a deadly attack on tourists in occupied Kashmir, after which India launched military strikes against targets in Pakistan. Islamabad rejected allegations linking it to the attack.
The two countries subsequently exchanged military strikes before agreeing to a ceasefire in May 2025. Trump has repeatedly referred to his role in facilitating an end to the military escalation.
Trump has also previously praised Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Trump warns Iran over nuclear programme
In his address, Trump also spoke at length about the conflict with Iran, arguing that military action had prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
He warned that he could “annihilate the Islamic Republic” if a deal to end the conflict was not reached, while saying he believed an agreement could be achieved after the November 3 US midterm elections.
Trump called on countries to support the economic isolation of Iran and urged Tehran to negotiate.
Iran has consistently denied seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
Trump calls for countries to leave ICC
The US president also criticised the International Criminal Court (ICC), calling it an “out-of-control institution” and urging member states to withdraw.
Trump said the United States would not allow its military personnel or others to be investigated by what he described as an anti-American tribunal without jurisdiction over the US.
The United States is not a party to the Rome Statute and has not ratified the treaty establishing the ICC. Israel, Russia and China are also not ICC members.
Washington has imposed sanctions on ICC officials following the court’s actions involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
US rejects international AI regulation
Trump also rejected calls for international regulation of artificial intelligence, saying the United States would oppose what he called a “globalist scheme” to control the technology.
He said his administration would use the term “super intelligence” rather than “artificial intelligence” in its communications.
Trump compared current concerns about AI risks with earlier warnings over climate change and said he opposed measures that could restrict the growth of the AI industry.
His comments came as more than 20 countries have called for binding safety measures for advanced AI systems. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the United States and China to establish dialogue, transparency and cooperation over the future development of AI.
China and the United States are separately discussing an AI communication channel as the two countries prepare for a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
